A politikum sajátosságai

Politics is a dubious enterprise; the politician is regarded with some suspicion by public opinion. From a sociological standpoint, the judgement of politics and politicians is paradoxical, from the political one, it is worrying and from an intellectual point of view, it is unacceptable. There are practical reasons for these perceptions but the theory of politics should also attract culpability. Political philosophy surveys politics from above and attempts to pass judgement based on higher principles. Yet, a kind of political philosophy exists which takes political life itself, the conflicts inseparable from politics, as a starting point. This approach is known as politicum. According to this approach, politics is not always nor is the only tool for implementing economic and social interests and moral and ideological ambitions; it has its own aims and dignity. This philosophy of politicum has the advantage of confronting the dangers that mainstream academic political philosophy overlooks, yet it is not itself without its own risks.